Guilt and Forgiveness

It seems termites might be turning into a theme here. Let's hope not. :)

I wasn't going to post another message by Bill Bright today, but when I read this message, it hit me pretty hard. Sometimes it's really hard for me to find that balance between striving to overcome and claiming God's promise of forgiveness when I do sin. It tend to struggle with extremes.

It's like, sometimes I can hear satan whispering in my ear, "It's ok...go ahead...God will forgive you." Other times it's as if I hear satan whispering, "God can't forgive you again...Think how many times you've failed...there has to be a limit to His mercy."


Do You Have Termites?

So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus (Romans 8:1, NLT).

Dear friends:

Real estate owners in California have a fear of termites. I know, having lived there many years when our international headquarters was at Arrowhead Springs, near San Bernardino.

These hungry little insects love the climate. It's just dry enough and just warm enough for them to flourish.

Totally unsuspected, these pests find a vulnerable, subterranean entry and, if unchecked, will virtually destroy a building. You cannot sell a home in California without having a termite inspection and making a legal disclosure of the results. A bonded professional must survey the property, inspecting every nook and cranny prior to the sale. It is his responsibility to ensure that the new owner is not purchasing damaged real estate.

Likewise, there is a tiny spiritual termite gnawing away at the spiritual and emotional foundation of many Christians today. You cannot see him from the outside. But he is busily engaged in destruction.

Just like the literal termite, this symbolic pest, called "guilt," is devouring bite by bite, chomping away at the inner-strength and vitality of their lives. His primary target is one's peace, and his appetite is voracious. Unless checked, he will eat away until all of one's peace, inner-strength and vitality are gone.

This devouring termite of guilt finds entry into a person's life in two ways.

First, he finds entry through unconfessed sin. To defeat him, to maintain our peace, and to remain in fellowship with God, we must confess any disobedience as soon as the Holy Spirit reveals it to us. "If we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us and to cleanse us from every wrong" (1 John 1:9, NLT). This wonderful promise from God's mercy is available to us 24/7.


Powered by Castpost

Second, this pest of guilt finds entry in many people who just cannot believe that once sin is confessed and forsaken, they are truly forgiven. It sounds too good, too easy. They feel they need to carry the guilt to atone for their sins.

Well, it is good, but it is not easy. It cost Jesus His life to provide this for us. It honors Him when we believe His word and appropriate the great sacrifice He made for us, but it dishonors Him when we act as though we must add to His sacrifice and try to atone for our own sins.

Do not let the termite of past sin destroy your peace. Confess any known sin, then walk in the faith and victory our Lord desires for us, and paid for with His own blood.

Yours for helping to fulfill the Great Commission each year until our Lord returns,

Bill Bright